Your back may ache across your shoulders, or in your middle or lower back. This can be caused by the poor posture that is common in pregnancy (due to the enlargement of your breasts, the relaxation of your ligaments, and the change in your center of gravity) or by a separation of the two muscles than run down the middle of your abdomen. You can help to prevent backache by wearing a supportive bra, practicing good posture, exercising your abdominal muscles, and doing pelvic rocks. You can help to alleviate back pain by applying warm compresses, visiting a chiropractor, or applying Saint John’s Wort oil to the affected area. Backache can also signal premature labor or a kidney infection. If your pain is constant, is accompanied by a change in urinary frequency, cramp-like pains, or you feel generally ill, please contact your care provider.